Tape-dispensing device



Nov. 6, 1951 A. P. KRUEGER 2,574,332

TAPE-DISPENSING nsvxcs Filed June 29, 1946 2 SHEETS-'SHEET 1 Nov. 6,1951 A. P. KRUEGER TAPE-DISPENSING DEVICE Filed June 29, 1946 2SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TAPE-DISPENSING DEVICE Alfred P. Krueger, Stratford, Conn., assignor toDerby Sealers, Incorporated, Derby, Conn., a corporation of ConnecticutApplication June 29, 1948, Serial No. 680,439 11 Claims. (Cl. 184-84.!)

. This invention relates to a tape-dispensing device, and moreparticularly to a device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape.

Tape of the character referred to above is tacky or clingable upon onesurface, and for this reason difficulty has been encountered in .thepast in providing a device which would draw or feed the tape from theroll and present a free end projecting from/the machine, which free endmay be grasped by the fingers of the user and torn off against atear-off blade, or severed in some other way. While in the particularmachine herein illustrated a tear-oil blade is shown, certain principlesof the invention may be used, for example, in a machine whichautomatically severs the free end of the tape and dispenses the severedportion to the operator, who needs only remove it from the machine.

It has been found that tape of this character may be fed or drawn fromthe supply roll by a traveling feeding means having a surface to whichthe tacky side of the tape may cling, the tape adhering to the feedingmeans with sufllcient force to draw it from the supply roll. The fact,however, that the tape will adhere to the feeding means withconsiderable force presents the problem of stripping it from thisfeeding means in order that there may be presented a free end which maybe grasped by the operator.

Therefore, one feature of the present invention is the provision ofstripping means to positively strip the tape from the feeding meansafter it has been advanced by the latter so that this free end of thetape will project from the machine in an accessible and convenientposition. This stripping means is so positioned relatively to thefeeding means that the tape will have suflicient contact with the latterin order to adhere thereto with suilicient force to draw the tape fromthe supply roll, and at the same time will be stripped from the supplyroll at a point substantially opposite that of the severing or tearoifmeans, so that substantially the entire portion of the free end of thetape will be severed for use.

It has also been the experience of those using pressure-sensitive tapethat the latter is apt to adhere to the severing means even though thelatter is engaged by the non-tacky side of the tape. In other words,there will be, during the severing operation, slight contact, of thetacky material with the severing means, and, after repeated use, therewill be suflicient accumulation of the tacky material on the severingblade to cause the tape to adhere thereto, and, in that event. the tapewill not be properly fed or dispensed during a subsequent operation ofthe device. I, therefore, also contemplate in the present invention astripping means for stripping the tape from the severing means, wherebythe tape will be prevented from clinging to the severing means, and theend of the tape will at all times be free to be fed forwardly when thedevice is operated.

One obiect of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedmeans for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape. A further object of theinvention is to provide a dispensing device for pressure-sensitive tape,comprising a traveling feeding member to which the tape is adapted toadhere, and 9. vibratory stripping member adapted to be moved againstand from the surface of the tape on said feeding member to strip thetape therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing devicefor pressure-sensitive tape having a rotating feeding member to thesurface of which the tape is adapted to adhere so that it may be drawnfrom the supply roll, and a stripping member or stripping membersadjacent the feeding member, the stripping member or members beingintermittently moved against and withdrawn from the surface of the tapeto effectively strip it from the feeding member and present a free endprojecting from the feeding member. which may be readily grasped by theoperator.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device for feedingpressure-sensitive tape having a severing or tear-oft blade, and meansfor preventing the tape from adhering to this blade after it has beensevered thereby.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device fordispensing pressure-sensitive tape having a rotating feeding member towhich the tape is adapted to adhere, and also having tripping meansadjacent this feeding member and disposed adjacent one face of the tapeas it is advanced by said member, a severing means at the opposite sideof the tape, and stripping means cooperating with the severing meansalso located on the side of the tape opposite said first-named strippingmeans, the two stripping means being disposed substantially oppositeeach other with respect to the travel of the tape.

in .the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a tapedispensing device embodyingmy invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

pawl, as shown in Fig. 3, being Fig. 3 is a partial side elevationalview showing side opposite that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view;

Fig. is a sectional view on line L-B of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 5, showing the parts inanother position; and

Fig. 'l is an enlarged view of the severing means and stripping devicecooperating therewith.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 have shown aframe comprising a base I2 and parallel upstanding side frame members IIand I2. These members may be each provided with a slot [2 adapted toreceive a spindle it upon which is rotatably mounted the supply roll I!of the tape to be dispensed.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, a shaft i2 is rotatablymounted in the frame members Ii and I2, and secured upon this shaft is afeeding member in the form of a wheel or roll I1, which may be providedwith a knurled or roughened surface, it, so that the tape issuing fromthe roll, as shown at i9, may adhere thereto. As will be understood,this type of tape is wound upon the supply roll with the tacky side in,so that, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the tacky side of the tape willengage the corrugated surface of the feed roll.

Secured to the shaft I2 is a ratchet wheel or pinion 2i, and pivotedupon this shaft is a lever 22, the lever being held thereon by acollar23 secured to the shaft. A pawl 24 is pivoted at 25 to the upper end ofthe lever 22, the tooth of the adapted to engage the teeth of the pinion2|. The body of the pawl 24 is extended upwardly beyond the pivot 25, soas to provide a handle or ilngerpiece 26 to be engaged by the operatorto move the lever 22 and pawl 22 and effect movement of the feed rolli1.

As shown more especially in Fig. 3, stops 21 and 22 are secured inopenings in the frame member i2, so as to limit the movement of thelever 22, and thus limit the length of tape which is dispensed at oneoperation of the lever. If desired. additional openings 22 may beprovided within which the stop 22 may be adjustably secured in order tovary the length of tape dispensed at one stroke of the lever. It will beunderstood that pressure upon the finger-piece 26 in a direction to moveit counterclockwise, as shown in Fig. 3, will cause the pawl 24 toengage the teeth of the pinion 2|, and therefore rotate the feed roll.When the flngerpiece 25 is released, the weight of the lower end of thelever 22 below the shaft i2 will be sufficient to cause this lever torotate in a clockwise direction, and restore the parts to the positionshown in Fig. 3. It will, of course, be understood that the feed roll isnot rotated during this return movement of the lever 22 and pawl 24, andit will also be understood that, if a single movement of the pawl andlever does not dispense a sufficient quantity of tape, as many of thesemovements as are desired may be made prior to the severing operation, inorder to dispense any length of tape desired.

The shaft l6 also projects beyond the frame member H, and upon theprojecting end of this shaft is mounted a pinion 3|! the teeth of whichmesh with the teeth of a pinion 2| secured to a shaft 22 also rotatablymounted in the frame members II and I2, so that the shaft 22 will beintermittently rotated with the shaft I2 upon oscillating movements ofthe lever 22 and pawl 24. Upon the shaft 22 is secured astripperactuating member 22. As shown, this member is in the form of awheel having an uneven or undulating surface, and, as illustrated, isprovided with ratchet teeth 24, although the particular form of teethupon this wheel may be varied if desired.

As shown more especially in Figs. 2, 5 and 6. stripper members 22 and 21are provided, one upon each side of the feed member i1. These strippermembers are carried by arms or levers 22 and 22 pivoted at their rearends to the end frame at 40 and ll. These arms project forwardly fromtheir pivots, and the stripper members 22 and 21, as illustrated,constitute upwardly bent forward ends of these arms, although they mayor may not be formed integrally with the arms, as is desired. As shownin Fig. 4. these arms are narrower at their rear ends than at theirforward ends, so as to provide a space therebetween for the passage ofthe tape II, and at the same time provide that the stripper members 2iand 21 will lie closely adjacent the side faces of the feed roll ii.

A yoke 42 spans the feed roll l1, and is connected at its ends to thestripping members 25 and 21 so as to rigidly secure these memberstogether. A spring 42 is secured at its upper end to this yoke, and atits lower end to a plate carried by the frame, which spring normallyurges the stripping members downwardly or away from the shaft i2, andtherefore away from the tape on the feed roll [1; On the lower surfaceof the arm 22 is provided 2. lug or tooth 42 designed to be engaged bythe teeth of the wheel 22, and the spring 44. as will be obvious.maintains this lus in engagement with the wheel 22. As the wheel rotatesin a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, during theoperation of the machine, it will be seen that this lug will be movedfrom one tooth space to another, and in so doing will eflect the raisingof the arms 22 and 22, and cause the strippin members 22 and 21 to beadvanced or moved against the lower surface of the tape and strip itfrom the feed roll. It may also be noted that the pinion 2| is smallerthan the pinion 22, so that the shaft 22 will rotate at a greater speedthan that of the shaft ll, thus causing a more or lessrapid vibratinaction of the strippers 22 and 21. These members will strike the tapeintermittently at closely spaced points, and strip it from the feedroll, as the latter is rotated forwardly to advance the tape. It willalso be apparent that the member 42 will act as a holding pawl toprevent reverse rotation of the shafts l2 and 22 during return movementof the lever 22 and pawl 24.

Mounted upon the frame members H and I2, above the feed roll I1, is asevering blade 42, herein shown as a tear-off blade having a serratededge 42 across which the free end of the tape may be drawn to be severedfrom the supply roll, although I do not wish to be limited to a tear-offblade, as the invention is applicable to a shearing blade as well. Itwill be understood that, as this severing member is above the tape, itwill contact with the non-tacky side thereof. It has been found,however, that, after repeated tearing operations, there will be asufllcient engagement between the tacky material on the lower side orthe edges of the tape and the severing blade 42 to cause the tape totend to adhere thereto, and interfere with a subsequent feedingoperation. To prevent such an eventuality, I provide a strippin member22 comprising a resilient plate secured at the lower face of thesevering blade by rivets or the like ll.

It will be noted that the forward end of the stripping member normallystands in a position spaced from the forward edge of the severing blade48. When the free end of the tape has been moved upwardly against thesevering blade, to be torn off as shown in Fig. 7, the forward end ofthe stripping member will also be moved upwardly against the severingblade. However when the free end of the tape has been severed, theinherent resilience of the strippin member 5. will cause it to move awayfrom the blade to the position shown in Fig. 5, and strip the tape fromthe blade 48 so that the end of the tape will be free to be advanced bythe feed roll upon a subsequent operation. It will be appreciated thatit will be easier to break the engagement between the end of the tapeand blade ll than to strip the tape from the feed roll, or to advancethe feed roll. The latter would, of course, entail drawing the tape fromthe supply roll, which in the case of pressure-sensitive tape requiresconsiderable effort. As comparatively little effort is required to stripthe end of the tape from the blade, the stripper 50 will need only arelatively weak spring action which will not interfere with the severingoperation.

The operation of the machine will be clear from the above description tothose skilled in the art, but may be briefly described as follows: Asexplained, the lever 22 and pawl 24 have a oneway connection with theshaft It, so that, upon forward movement of the fingerpiece 28, theshaft itand feed roll i'l will be moved in a clockwise direction, asshown, for example, in Figs. 5 and 6. Upon a reverse stroke of the lever22 and pawl 24, the latter will ride freely over the teeth of the pinion2|, and no movement of the shaft II will be effected. Upon clockwisemovement of the feed roll H, the tape it will adhere thereto and bedrawn from the supply roll and advanced from the machine. During thismovement of the feed roll, the wheel 33 will be moved in acounterclockwise direction, and thus effect vibration of the strippers38 and 31, which will strip the tape from the feed roll I! so as topresent a free end, as shown in Fig. 5, extending from the machine, tobe readily grasped by the operator. When a sufllcient length of tape hasbeen advanced by the machine, the user will grasp the free end of thetape and sever it against the serrated edge 48 of the severing memberIt. The stripper ill will then positively strip the unsevered end of thetape from the knife 48, so that it will present a free end when fedforwardly during a subsequent operation.

It will be noted that the stripping means I! and ll, and the strippingmeans 50, are upon opposite sides of-the tape, and are substantiallyopposite each other, or contact the tape at substantially oppositepoints, the contact being made at approximately the point at which thetape is severed. In this instance, this point is forwardly of the shaftIi, although the invention is not limited in this respect. It is, ofcourse, necessary that a sufllcient length of the tape i9 will be leftin contact with the surface of the feed roll to cause it to adhere tothe roll with a suflicient force to draw the tape from the supply roll.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention,it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the detailsshown. but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit ofthe invention and within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for feeding pressure-sensitive tape, a frame, feedingmeans mounted on the frame including a rotating member to which the tapeadheres, a vibratory stripping device mounted on the frame independentlyof said feeding means and disposed, laterally of said member, and meansfor continuously vibrating said device to cause it to engage the tapeand strip it from said member.

2. In a machine for feeding pressure-sensitive tape, a frame, feedingmeans including a tape-advancing member mounted on the frame and havinga traveling surface to which the tape adheres, a vibratory strippingmember mounted on the frame independently of said tape-advancing member,and means for continuously moving said member to and fro across the pathof the tape on said surface to strip the tape from said advancingmember.

3. In a machine for feeding pressure-sensitive tape, a frame feedingmeans including a tape-advancing member mounted on the frame and havinga traveling surface to which the tape adheres, a vibratory strippingmember mounted on the frame independently of said tape-advancing member,and means for continuously moving said member to and fro across the pathof the tape on said surface to strip the tape from said advancingmember, said stripping member being moved in a direction substantiallytransverse to that of the travel of the tape.

4. In a machine for feeding pressure-sensitive tape, feeding meansincluding a tape-advancing member having a traveling surface to whichthe tape adheres, said surface being relatively narrow with respect tothe width of the tape, a vibratory stripping member on each side of saidsurface, and means for moving said stripping members to and fro acrossthe path of the tape projecting from the edges of said surface to stripthe tape from said advancing member.

5. In a machine for feeding pressure-sensitive tape, feeding meansincluding a tape-advancing member having a traveling surface to whichthe tape adheres, said surface being relatively narrow with respect tothe width of the tape, a vibratory stripping member on each side of saidsurface and below the same, and means for moving said stripping membersup and down across the path of the tape projecting from the edges ofsaid surface to strip the tape from said advancing member.

6. In a machine for feeding pressure-sensitive tape, including a frame,feeding means including a rotating tape-feeding member to which the tapeis adapted to adhere, means for intermittently rotating said member, avibratory stripping member mounted on the frame independently of saidtape-feeding member and disposed adjacent said feeding member, means forcontinuously moving said stripping member toward and from the tape onsaid feeding member during rotation of the latter to strike the tape andstrip it from the feeding member,

' said means being actuated by said rotating memher.

7. In a machine for feeding pressure-sensitive tape, feeding meansincluding a rotating tapefeeding member to which the tape is adapted toadhere, means for intermittently rotating said member, a vibratorystripping member pivoted on the frame adjacent said feeding member,means for continuously vibrating said stripping member to move it towardand from the tape on said tory stripping member mounted adjacent saidfeeding member, an arm pivoted on the frame and connected to saidstripping member, a wheel rotatably mounted on the frame having anuneven surface adjacent said arm, and means on the arm to engage thesurface of said wheel to vibrate the stripping member across the tapepath.

9. In a machine for feeding pressure-sensitive tape, a frame, feedingmeans including a rotating tape-feeding member mounted on the frame towhich the tape is adapted to adhere, means for intermittently rotatingsaid member, a vibratory stripping member mounted adjacent said feedingmember, an arm pivoted on the frame and connected to said strippingmember, a wheel rotatably mounted on the frame having an uneven surfaceadjacent said arm. means on the arm to engage the surfaceof said wheelto vibrate the stripping member across the tape path, and a springurging said arm toward the wheel.

10. In a machine for feeding pressure-sensitive tape, feeding meansincluding a tape-advancing member to which the tape adheres, a strippingmember to engage the tape and strip it from said feeding means, atear-off blade against which the stripped end of the tape may besevered, and a resilient stripping member associated with said blade tostrip the unsevered end of the tape therefrom, both said strippingmembers engaging the tape at points in close proximity along its lengthbut on opposite sides thereof. 1"

11. In a machine for feeding pressure-sensitive tape, feeding meansincluding a tape-advancing member to which the tape adheres, a strippingmember to engage the tape and strip it from said feeding means, atear-off blade against which the stripped end of the tape may besevered, and a resilient stripping member associated with said blade tostrip the unsevered end of the tape thereforrn, both said strippingmembers being disposed substantially opposite the operative edge of saidblade.

ALFRED P. KRUEGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

